Budapest

Rowan found this old picture from when we went to Budapest, an incredible nine years ago. I can't believe how time has passed so quickly.

 

Stroll 82 Hexham to Haydon Bridge

 

This magnificent bridge over the Tyne is Hexham was built in 1793 after three failed attempts. I headed west up the South Tyne valley for a varied walk along the river, then high up to the north before dropping down to Haydon Bridge.

Lit & Phil 2

After a while my gaze turned up to the ceiling, with these amazing skylights. It felt like a giant owl was looking down on me.

 

Lit & Phil

Friend Robert, who died last year, had told me about the Literary & Philosophical Library in Newcastle. Known as the Lit & Phil, it was founded in 1793, just down the road from the central station. Robert had said I had to go and see it. So I did, sadly without Robert, but I immediately saw why he loved it so. You can just go in, sit down amidst these amazing stacks of book, have a think, write some thoughts down etc. A secret special place.

 

Stroll 81 Newsham to Ashington

 The route took me through a real mix of post industrial landscapes. This railway bridge is now in use on the new line from Newcastle to Ashington, as well as having Drax bound bio fuel freight trains trundling over it. A rare sight in the UK, a girder viaduct.

Stroll 80 South Shields to Newsham

The Stroll route heads north out of Newcastle, aided by the newly reopened railway line to Ashington. The first leg involved crossing the Tyne on the foot ferry, and walking the coast through Whitley Bay up to Blyth. 

St Mary's Island, seen from the coast path at Seaton Sluice

Stroll 79 Ilkley to Harrogate

 This was the longest leg of the Stroll so far, walking 20 miles today. I followed the Dales Way route from Ilkley to Harrogate, a really good walk over Denton Moor, through Timble Woods, along the Haverah valley, past Harlow Carr (a RHS garden) then down through Valley Gardens to Harrogate. A great walk. Both man and dog were tired out.

The path through the heather on the moors.

Stroll 78 Chorley to Preston

 

Chorley was always just somewhere between Preston and Wigan, when I was growing up in Preston. I barely remember going there at all. It is the birthplace of John Foxx (brilliant original leader of Ultravox) who I saw five or six times in the 70s.

Today it was the start point for the Stroll that took me back to Preston. Turns out it is a lovely place, with parks and woods that created a great final leg of that part of the journey.

Book Group

Our book group meets upstairs once a month. This is what it looks like some of the time.

 

Welcome Committee

Alfie was very keen to be ready when owner Emilie returned. Layla was keen to be there with him.

 

The Gateway

The gate into the back garden. As the sun gets lower the shadows become more prominent.

 

Bracket

It is very easy to ignore some of life's wonders. Like this bracket fungus which emerged from nowhere in the woods by the racecourse. It is Laetiporus, know as chicken of the woods. I decided not to risk my health on the word of Google Lens, but I am sure that I could have.

 

Guitar Guitar

And here is Felix with the guitar, and sister Clara controlling the amp. The next generation starts here.

 

Family Visit

Niece Sarah came to see us with Laurance at the weekend. Purpose of visit? To collect a guitar and amp I am lending to Felix who is starting to learn electric guitar at school.

 

Hope

 Drove a friend to Leeds for cancer treatment last week. Not the first person I've done it for. Hope.

From Hatfield Moors

Hatfield again.

Friend Emilie has been in Finland for a week, so we had Alfie the dog staying with us again. We all went to Hatfield Moors for a picnic breakfast then a walk amidst the heather and rowan berries. Layla was busy looking for deer when this photo was taken.

 

Stroll 77 fin

Congratulations to Bridlington station staff for growing and showing 4 metre high sunflowers. Made the station a better place to be.

 

Stroll 77 iii

The footpath went through these field beans (I think) which had a bit of a post-apocalyptic vibe.

 

Stroll 77 ii

Harvest had come and gone atop the wolds. Look to the right and see the wind turbines.

 

Stroll 77 Bridlington to Napperton

A walk that took me from the seaside at Brid, up onto the Wolds by way of an old Roman Road (Woldgate in photo) and finally down to chalk streams at Napperton.